The Howell Family: Gabe's Blessing

The week leading up to Gabe's blessing was a rough one. Scott was traveling for work, and Gabe was sick. I was really worried about going through with the blessing and having the weekend be miserable. I was exhausted, and Gabe was miserable. I decided that we would just postpone the blessing for another month. I was an emotional mess, though, and worried about having to wait another month because his blessing outfit wouldn't fit. Shauna told me that if we needed to wait another month, she would just buy him a new one, and to just do what was best for us. I decided it would be best to wait.

But then Gabe had a complete turnaround on Thursday and I decided we'd be able to go ahead with the blessing. My parents came on Saturday, and so did Mike and Shauna. We stayed up way too late Saturday night hanging out with family.

Sunday morning, April 10th, Aunt Shauna claimed the honor of dressing Gabe in his blessing outfit. It was the same outfit that her son Spencer wore for his blessing. It then got passed on to us and Josh and Aaron wore it for their blessings (Nate and Owen wore a different one).

The cool kids got to ride to church in Aunt Shauna's car.

Gabe was perfect for his blessing. He was wide awake, but he didn't make a sound. Scott blessed him, with Gabe's two grandpas and two members of the bishopric standing in the circle. Shauna recorded the blessing and typed it up later for me. It was a beautiful blessing.

"Our Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold, we take this infant in our arms to give him a name and a blessing. The name which we have chosen for him is Gabriel Kington Howell. Gabe, at this time we also wish to give you a blessing. Bless you with physical health and strength, that you will continue to grow and be healthy, that your body will allow you to accomplish all of the wonderful things that are in store for you in this life. Bless you with a sound mind that you will be able to recognize truth and have a capacity to learn it and retain it and use it for your benefit, and for the benefit of those around you, that you might use it to grow and to share. Bless you with that you will have a close relationship with your Father in Heaven, that you will be sensitive to the Spirit, that you might know His will, and that you might have the desire and ability follow His will and share His will with others. Bless you that you will continue to be a wonderful addition to our family, that you will be a good sibling and a good friend, and that you will appreciate the family members and the friends that surround you, that you will be an influence for good in their lives and that you will accept their influence for good in yours. Gabe, we bless you with these things and seal these blessings upon you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I know you aren't supposed to take pictures in Sacrament, but Kate was playing with Shauna's phone and managed to snap this picture, and I just couldn't help but keep it.

I was so grateful for Shauna and Mike coming. Things were crazy in their life, but they took the time to drive clear from Idaho Falls to be there for us. I love them.

We stayed for all three hours of church because Scott had to teach Elder's Quorum. After church we came home and took family pictures outside.

My handsome boys.

My beautiful girls (and Gabe).

The whole group. My parents and Shauna and Mike were there from my family. Scott's parents and Jamie and her kids were there from Scott's family. We missed the family that couldn't make it, but were very happy to have the ones that could come.

Mike was kind enough to be the photographer for the big group shot, so we had to get a picture with him in it. (Mike had already changed out of his church clothes before pictures, so I made him get back in his church shirt. We figured the bottom half wouldn't show in the pictures. It made for a pretty comical outfit.)